UPDATE - DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE REQUESTED ANONYMITY DUE TO FEAR OF RETALIATION - ALL - NAMES WILL BE REDACTED TO INITIALS ONLY BEFORE TURNING THE PETITION INTO THE BOARD. 

To the Members of the Waynesboro Area School Board of Directors:

We, the undersigned residents, parents, taxpayers, staff, and community members of the Waynesboro Area School District, respectfully submit this Petition of No Confidence regarding the leadership of Superintendent Rita Sterner-Hine and Assistant Superintendent Diane McCallum.

After observing three full days of public hearing testimony concerning the demotion of Summitview Elementary Principal Steven Pappas, we are deeply troubled by what was presented on the record. The testimony and exhibits introduced during this hearing raised serious concerns about the manner in which the investigation, disciplinary process, and administrative actions were conducted by District leadership.

Specifically, testimony and evidence presented during the hearing indicated:

1) The superintendent presented allegations as if they were substantiated facts, when the evidence later showed no reasonable investigation had occurred. The investigation into allegations against Principal Pappas appeared incomplete, inconsistent, and not supported by substantial evidence;  

This puts the board in danger of having relied on unverified assertions.  The board's vote was based on representations that implied an investigation had occurred. Testimony later showed that was not the case

2) That material representations made by the Superintendent in support of the demotion in the hearing and to the Board were called into question by testimony and documentary evidence; 

3) That the disciplinary action appeared disproportionate to the allegations as supported by the evidence presented;

4) That testimony suggested the Superintendent failed to properly report or investigate alleged misconduct involving a staff member and a student after concerns were raised by Principal Pappas;

5) That documentary evidence showed Principal Pappas’ professional evaluation, originally completed and submitted in June 2025, was subsequently edited in November 2025, raising concerns regarding the integrity of the evaluation process and the Administration;

6) That the cumulative record of the hearing to date created the appearance of bias, retaliation, or personal animus rather than an objective, fact-driven administrative process.

Whether each of these matters ultimately meets a legal threshold is not the issue before this community. The issue is public trust.

The role of a Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent requires not only legal compliance, but unquestioned fairness, transparency, integrity, and sound judgment. The testimony presented during this hearing has significantly undermined the confidence of many members of this community in the District’s top leadership.

When a school district’s leadership appears to:

• conduct inadequate investigations,
• support severe discipline without substantial evidence,
• fail to properly address allegations of staff misconduct involving students, and
• alter official evaluation documents months after completion 

the public’s faith in the administration of our schools is eroded.  When disciplinary action is taken without a reasonable investigation, the District, and by extension the community, not the Superintendent personally, bears the risk.

A Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent who bring career-altering allegations without a reasonable investigation undermines due process, misleads the Board, creates fear and instability for employees, and damages public trust.  That failure demands accountability.

For these reasons, we respectfully request that the Waynesboro Area School Board of Directors:

Take appropriate action to restore transparency, accountability, and trust in District leadership.

Until such review occurs, we, the undersigned, state that we have no confidence in the ability of Superintendent Rita Sterner-Hine and Assistant Superintendent Diane McCallum to fairly, objectively, and transparently lead the Waynesboro Area School District.

This petition is submitted not in anger, but out of concern for the integrity of our schools, the safety of our students, the protection of our WASD teachers, administrators and staff, and the trust of our community.

Respectfully submitted,